Latcping mechanism



Filed Dec. 19. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 j Jan. 14, 1930. D. w. PERIN LATCHING- MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 14, 1930. D. w. PERIN LATCHING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19. 19;? v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 14, 1930. D. w. PERI'N LATCHING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19, 1927 Iran villa, ,lfiarg '71/ Mao/4M Patented Jan; 14, 19 30 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOE'ALD W. PERIN, OF BROOKLIN'E, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN FREIGHT SERVICE, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LATGIRING MEcHANism Application fllefl'Deeember 19, 1927. Serial No. 241,240.

This invention relates to an improvement in latching mechanism and more particularly in latching mechanism adapted to secure in position upon a platform a container movable into the said position from either of two opposite directions.

The broad idea of providin tracks on a platform for guiding a move 1e container into a desired position thereon and of providing latching mechanism for securing the container in such position is old and well known, being shown, for example, in my Patent No. 1,418,966, dated June 6, 1922. The construction there set forth however necessitates the moving of the container onto the platform in one direction only and it has been found desirable to provide a construction which will function regardless of the direction inwhich the container is moved over the tracks on the platform. This is of particular importance in connection with the mounting of containers transversely of a platform, as for example, the platform of a flat car in which case the container should he movable onto or removable from the platform at either side of the car.

The primary object of this invention is to provide latching mechanism which will permit a container to be loaded onto tracks on a platform in either of two directions and to be removed therefrom in either direction regardless of the direction in which it was loaded upon the platform and which will lock the container in a predetermined position on said plat-form. A further object of this invention is to provide latching mechanism including a hook which, as the container is moved into the desired position, will be depressed by the container but which can be retracted until the hook is free to return to its normal position, and then advanced into the locking position. Other'objects will be apparent to one skilled in the art from an examination of the following description and of the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the platform of a flat car adapted to receive on tracks a plurality of containers and provided with latching mechanism for securing such containers in position:

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the flat car shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a latch in the functioning position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of such latch in engagement with a portion of a container taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, the parts,

however, being in the partially released position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5, with the latch in the entirely released position; V I v v Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 showing, in full lines, the hook depressed by the container and indicating, in dotted lines, the latch retracted sufliciently to release the hook;

Fig. 8 is across sectional View taken along the line 88 of Fig.3;-

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a latch in the raised position upon a flat car;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation on a reduced scale of a portion of a container and. the latches one one side, one latch inengagement and theother latch out of contact; and

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of one detail of the latching mechanism.

This invention is illustrated in the drawings as applied to a, fiat car 10, the platform 11 of which is provided with a plurality of suitably spaced tracks 12 adapted to receive casters 17 on the bottom of a container 18 in a manner disclosed in my prior patent. It will be understood that the containers 18 are to be secured in position by latches 13 suitably arranged outside the track adjacent each end thereof. As shown in the drawing two pair of latches 13 are provided for each container, the pair at one edge facing the pair at the other edge. L aterally projecting from each side of the container 18 nearthe end thereof are pins 14 which may be, as shown in Fig. 10, carried by brackets 15 suitably secured on longitudinally extending beams 16 which form a part of the container 18.

Each latch 13 comprises a base including a base plate 20 and a bl0ck 21, a hook 22 pivotally mounted in the block 21 and a handle 23 by which the latch is o erated. The base plate 20 is rigidly secure upon the platform 11 in any suitable way and has a pair of longitudinally extending arallel walls 24 ofl'set at the rear end of the plate. The walls 24 define an open pocket 25 having an enlargement 26 at the rear end of the plate. Flanges 27 on the walls 24 overhang the pocket 25 and its enlaggement 26 providing guides 28, 29 at each s1 e.

The block 21 rests on the plate 20 in the pocket 25 and has projections 30 which enter the ides 28 so that the flanges 27 prevent the bloc 21 from rising out of the pocket 25. In .he block 21 is a central recess 31 open at the front and bottom, closed at the rear by a wall 32 and partially closed at the-top by a flange 3.3. nected at the front by a crosspiece 35 and support an axle 36. Mounted in therecess 31 upon the axle 36 between the side walls 34 is the hook 22 which extends through the open front of the recess and is held in contact with the flange 33 by means of a suitable coil spring 37. The hook 22 is offset as shown in the drawings, so that the tip 38 which engages one of the pins 14 is nearer the adjacent track 12 than is the re mainder of the hook.- The spring 37 extends in front of the book 22 and each end is wound around a button 38 before being secured in a block 39 both'buttons and blocks being carried by the walls 34. The handle 23 is pivotally secured to the rear end of the block 21 by a pin 40 mounted in the walls 34 behind the wall 32 and extends along the pocket 25 when the latch is in the functioning position, as shown in Figs. 3, 4. 6 and 7. Intermediate its ends 40 the handle 23 is rovided with a slot 41 between the walls of which is a dog 42 pivotally mounted on a pin 43 and having a nose 44.

In the enlargement 26 of the pocket 25 is mounted a slidable block 45 having flanges 46 which extend into the guides 29 formed in the walls 24. The block 45 is provided with a pair of bosses 47 and 48, one adjacent each end of the block, and a central post 49. The

post"49 of the block 45 enters the slot 41 in 50 the handle 23 when the handle is in the position shown in Fig. 4 and in its upper surface is formed a notch 50 which, under certain conditions, receives the nose 44 of the dog 42.

The block 45 is ad'ustably secured within the 65 enlargement 26 o the pocket 25 by means of 1 bolts 51 which threadedly engage the bosses 47, 4S and pass freelythrough holes in the walls 24 which extend partly across the rear of the plate 20. Suitable nuts 61 coact with 60 the heads 62 of the bolts 51 to fix the bolts in The boss 48 carries a flanged arm 55 below The side walls 34 of the recess 31 are con-' which the bar 53. rests when in the position shown in Fig. 4. A suitably formed spring 57 carried by the arm 55 coacts with the arm to secure the bar 53 removably in the locking position. If it be desired to fix the bar in that positionand prevent meddling with it a chain (not shown) carried by the platform may be passed through a hole 58 provided in one end of the bar. A bridge 60 connecting the walls 26 of the plate 20 extends over the block 21 and the handle 23 at such a height that it does not in any way interfere with the movement of the block 21 in the pocket25.

Openings 63, 64 in the bottom of the base plate 20 and in the walls 24 are provided to. permit the removal and escape of dirt, snow, ice, or other matter that might interfere with the operation ofthe handles 23. The openings 65 in the bottom of the plate 20near the rear walls 24 permit the turning of the nuts 61.

The container 18 may be loaded ontothe car 10 from either side being guided into the proper position on the platform 11 by the engagement of its casters 17 in the tracks 12 the hooks 22 of all the latches usually being in their normal raised position. The forward pair of pins 14 on the container as they travel over the platform strike the hooks 22 of the first pair of latches and depress them against the tension of the springs 37 as shown in full lines on Fig. 7. As soon as these pins pass beyond the hooks 22 a sufficient distance the hooks will return to the normal positions. lVhen the forward pair of pins 14 reach the second pair of latches 13 which as shown in Fig. ,10 face the first pair of latches they are engaged by the tips 38of the latch hooks and further progress of the container is prevented. As the forward pair of pins 14 engage the hooks 22 of the second pair of latches the rearward pair of pins strike and depress the hooks 22 of the first pair of latches (see Fig. 7). In order to secure the container upon the platform the block 21 of each of the first pair of latches is retracted bthe handle into the dotted line position of ig. 7, the bar 53 bemg swung from the, locking osition into a position in which it does not interfere with the movement of the handle. The block 21 is retracted until the tip 38 of the hook 22 is released from the engaging pin 14 and is free to return to its normal position. Then the block 21 is advanced until as shown in Fig. 5. the tip 38 engages the pin 14. The nose 44 of the dog 42 enters theno tch 50 of the 0st 49 and the handle is swung down on t e pin 40 into the position shown in Fig. 4 forcing the hook 22 into the final locking position. The dog 42 functions as one element of a toggle, the pin 43 being carried past the line between the pin 40 and notch 50. The bar 53 is then swun on its bolt 52 until it passes over the spring 5 and below the flange of the arm 55. The tongue 54 on the bar 53 prevents the dogs 42 130 the following claims which disclose ing manner which is described with reference to one latch only, it being understood that the other latch of the pair is treated in a similar manner. The locking bar 53 is swung out of the operative position and the handle 23 is raised (see Fig. 5) until the toggle formed by the dog 42 isbroken. The

upward movement of the handle 23 is continued until the'nose 44 is lifted out of the notch 50. The block 21 is then retracted until the hook 22 is engaged by the bridge 60 and depressed (see Fi 6) to bring the tip 38 of the hook below an out ofthe path of travel of the pins 14. When the latch is sopositioned the handle 23 will drop (see Fig. 6). so that the container 18 may be rolled off the platform. If other containers are to be loaded onto the car at the same station and from the same side of the platform the latches may remain in the releasedposition but customarily the latches will be restored to the normal position so that a container may be rolled into the platform from either side and its forward end be secured'in the desired .position automatically.

While this invention has been set forth in connection with the locking of a container upon a platform, the container being guided to the desired position by the engagement of casters with a track, itis not limited thereto since such latches could be employed in various embodiments, the essence of the invention residing in the fact that the latches permit the free movement of the article locked thereby in either of two directions, while normally in a position to limit the movement in one of said directions and to permit the free movement in the other direction as is set forth in I the spirit and scope of this invention. I

I claim: q

1. Latching mechanism for securing in'position upon a platform a container movable into said position from either of two opposite directions, said mechanism including two sets of latches, so located that when the container 'is moved in one direction, the first set permits and the second set limits such movement and, when the container is moved in the oppo: site direction, the first set limits and the second set permits such movement.

2. Latching mechanism for securing in 150- sition upon a platform a container movable into said position from either of two'opposite directions, said mechanism including a plurality of latches, each latch having a hook,

said latches being divided into two sets so' located'that, when the container is moved in one direction, the hooks of the first ,set of latches permit and the hooks of the second set of latches limit such movement, and when the container is moved in the opposite direction, the hooksof the first set of latches limit and the hooks of the second set of latches permit such movement.

3. Latching mechanism for securing in position upon a platform a container movable into, said position from either of two opposite directions, said mechanism comprising a plurality of pins on said container and a plurality of latches, one for each pin, each of said latches being engaged by certain of said pins during the movement of said container and acting to permit movement of said c0ntainer'in one direction and to prevent move ment of said container in the opposite direc tion.

4. Latching mechanism for securing in position upon a platform a container movable into said position from either of two opposite directions, said mechanism comprising a plurality of pins on said container, and a plurality of latches, one for each pin, each said latch including a pivoted hook which is engaged by certain of said pins during the movement of said container, and acts to permit movement of said container in one direc tion and to prevent movement of said container in the opposite direction.

5. Latching mechanism for securing in position upon a platform a container movable into said position from either of two opposite directions, said mechanism comprising a pluwhich hook is engaged by certain of said pins during the movement of said container and acts to permit movcmentof said container in one direction and to prevent movement of said container in the opposite direction.

6. Latching mechanism for securing in position upon a platform a container inovable into said position from either of two opposite directions, said mechanism comprising a plurality of pins on said container, and a plurality of latches, one for each pin, each said latch including a base mounted upon said platform, a hook pivoted upon said base, and means holding aid hook normally in a raised position, which hook is engaged by certain of said pins during the movement of said container being depressed by said pins to permit movement of said container in one direction andpreventing movement of said container Y mentof said container 111 the opposite d1rec-' container in the opposite direction.

rality of pins laterally projecting to 1 8. Latching mechanism for securing in position upon a platform a container movable into said position from either of two opposite directions, said mechanism comprising a plurality of pins laterally projecting from said container and a plurality of latches, one for each pin, each said latch including a base plate, a block slidable in said plate, a hook pivoted on said block, means holding said hook normally in a raised position, which hook is engaged b one of the pins during the movement 0 sai container, being depressed oy said pin to permit movement of said container in one direction and preventing movement of said container in the opposite direction and means for retracting'said block and hook in said plate when said hook is depressed to withdraw said hook from below said pin,

9. Latching mechanism for securing in posit-ion upon a platform a container movable into said position from dither of two opposite directions, said mechanism comprising a plufrom said container and a plurality of la es, one for each pin, each, said latch includinga base plate, a block slidable in said plate, a hook pivoted on said block, means holding said hook normally in a raised position, which hook is engaged b one of said pins during the movement of sai container, being depressed by said pin to permit movement of said contamer in one direction and preventing movetion and means for retracting said block and hook in said plate when said hook is depressed to withdraw said hook from below said pin and then advancing said block to bring said hook into latching engagement with said pin.

10.- Latching mechanism for securing in I, position upon a platform a container movable into said position from either of two opposite directions, said mechanism com rising a plurality of pins projecting latera I from said container and a plurality of late es, one for each pin, each latch including a hook normally in the path of one of said pins to limit the movement of said container inone of said directions and means for retracting said hook in the path of said pin and then removing the hook from said path to permit the movement of said container in said direction.

11. Latching mechanism for securlng in holding said hook normally in a osition upon a platform a container movable mto said position from either of two opposlte directions, said mechanism comprising a plurality of pins projecting laterall from said container and a pluralit of late es, one for each pin, each latch inc uding a base plate, a block, slidable in said base plate, a hook plvotally mounted in said block a spring normally holding said hook in the path of one of said pins to limit the movement'of said container in one of said directions, means for sliding said block in said base'plate to retract said hook in the ath of said pin and means for removing saicl hook from the ath of said" pin in opposition to the tension 0 said spring to permit the movement of saidcontainer in i said direction.

'12. Latching mechanism for securlng in position upon a platform a container movable mally in the path of one of sai pins and defrom either of two opposite rislnga plupressed by said pm when said container is i moved in one of said directions into thedesired position and means for retractin said a,

hook to disengage it from said pin an permit it to resume its normal position and for advancing said hook into locking engagement with said pin to prevent movement of sald container from said position in the other of said directions.

13. Latching mechanism for securing 1n position upon a. platform a container movable into said position from either of two opposite directions, said mechanism comprising a plu rality of pins projecting laterallfi container and a p urality of latc es, one for each pin, each latch including a base plate, a block slidable in said base plate, ahook p1votally mounted in said block, a spring holdin said hook normally in the ath of one of salt pins by which said hook 1s depressed when said container is moved in one of said direc-/ tions into the desired position, and means for sliding said block in said base plate to retract said hook from engagement with said pin and permit tion and for advancing said block to bring said hook into locking engagement with said pin to permit movement of said container from-said position in the other of said directions.

said hook to resume lts normal posifrom said 14. A latch comprising a base plate having a pocket therein, a block slidable in said pocket, a hook pivotally mounted on said block, a spring normally holding said hook ing a pocket therein, a block slidable in said pocket, a hook pivotally mounted on said block, aspring normally holding said hook I 0' l in a predctcrnnned positlonrelative to sald block, a bridge on said base plate and extendin'g over said pocket, and a handle pivotally secured to said block for sliding said block Signed by me at Boston,

pivoted upon said handle and adapted to engage said block and secure said handle in a predetermined position.

Massachusetts, this 16th day of December 1927.

in said pocket to bring said hook into en} .gagement with said bridge whereby said.

hook is shifted out of its normal position.

16. A latch comprising a base plate having a pocket therein, a block slidable in said pocket, a hook pivotally mounted on said block, a spring normally holding said hook in a predetermined position relative to said block, a bridge on said base plate and extending over said pocket, a handle pivota lly secured to said block for sliding said block in saidpocket to bring said hook into engagement with said bridge whereby said hook is shifted out of its normal position, and means carried bysaid base plate for securing said handle in a predetermined position.

17. A latch comprising a base plate havinga pocket therein, a block slidable in said pocket, a hook pivotally mounted on said block, a spring normally holding said hook in a predetermined position relative to said block, a bridge on said base plate and ex-, tending over said pocket, a handle pivotally secured to said block for sliding said block in said pocket to bring said hook engagement with said bridge whereby said hook is shifted out of its normal position, and a second block in said pocket for securing said handle in a predetermined position.

18. A latch comprising a. base plate having a pocket therein, a block slidable in said pocket, a hook pivotally mounted on said block, a spring-normally holding said hook-- in a predetermined position relative to said block, a bridge on said base plate and extending'oversaid pocket, a handle pivotally secured to said block for sliding said block in said pocket to bring said hook into engagement with said bridge whereby said hook is shifted out of its normal position, a second block in said pocket and means on said handle adapted to engage said block and secure said handle in a predetermined position.

19, A latch comprising a base platehavsing a pocket therein, a block slidable in said pocket, a hookipivotally mounted on said block, a spring normally holding said hook in a predetermined position relative to said block, a bridge 'on said base plate and extending over said pocket, and means carried by said base plate for securing said handle in a predetermined position, a second block adjustably slidable in said pocket and a dog I DONAIJD W. PERIN. 

